Automatically lighted ash receptacle



Patented June 5, 1951 OFFICE AUTOMATICALLY LIGHTED ASH RECEPTACLE WalterJ. Todhunter, Fresno, Calif.

Application August 17, 1948, Serial No. 44,693

(Cl. 240-2l Claims. 1

This invention relatesto ash receptacles and more specically to meansfor automatically lighting movable ash receptacles when in open positionfor use.

Automobiles are normally equipped with an ash receptacle or ashreceptacles which are movable to open and closed positions and which areadapted, in open position, to receive cigar and cigarette ashes andbutts and other disposable incidents of smoking. It has been found thatduring night driving of an automobile that it is difcult to locate anash receptacle properly to deposit such material therein. It has beenfound that quite often the material desired to be deposited in the ashreceptacle is not properly located therein but instead falls to theiloor of the automobile, is deposited on the occupants of theautomobile, or is free to be waited about by air circulating through thecar constituting not only a nuisance but a re hazard as well.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means forautomatically illuminating the interior of an ash receptacle when it ismoved to open position for the deposit of tobacco ashes, cigar andcigarette butts therein whereby the ash receptacle may be easily seenand easily lo cated during darkness.

It is another purpose of the present invention to provide means forlighting the full interior of an ash receptacle when it is moved to openposition combined with stop means for limiting the outward motion of theash receptacle.

. Another object is to provide in an automatic ash receptacle a combinedswitch and receptacle stop which are readily releasable to terminateillumination of the receptacle and to permit the removal of thereceptacle from its mounting, as for the emptying of its contents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting meansand releasable stop means combined with the conventional snuier of anash receptacle.

l A still further object of the invention is to pro- Vide for an easilyoperable illuminated ash receptacle which is economical to manufactureand easy to operate.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through an ashreceptacle and supporting construction employing the principles of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the ash receptacle moved toopen position for the reception of tobacco ashes, cigar and cigarettebutts and the like, therein.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the ashreceptacle taken along line 3-3 in Fig. l with the line I-I thereinindicating the plane through which the sectional views of Fig. 1 andFig. 2 are taken.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the ashreceptacle taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view through thesupporting shell of the ash receptacle taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 1With the ash receptacle proper shown in plan view.

Fig. `6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward end of the ashreceptacle supporting structure.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the forward portionof the ash receptacle supporting structure taken along lines I--T inFig. 1.

Referring to the details of construction of the ash receptacle andsupporting construction therefor, as shown in the drawing, thesupporting structure comprises a sheet` metal rectangular, tubular shellI0 having a horizontal top portion II, and a horizontal bottom portionI2 held in spaced parallel relationship by a pair of vertical parallelside portions I3. The supporting structure is open at the forward end.The forward edge of each of the side portions I3 is flanged outwardly atI4 whereby the shell may be attached, as by spot Welding, to aninstrument panel I6, indicated in dash lines in Fig. 5. Each of theflanged portions I4 may also be provided with a plurality of openingstherethrough whereby the shell may be attached to the instrument panelby means of screws or any other suitable mounting means. The instrumentpanel I6 has an opening formed therethrough approximately the size ofthe inside of the tubular shell I0.

The shell IG is provided at the forward end of its tcp portion with anupwardly extending bulb housing I8. This bulb housing comprises a pairof vertical, spaced, parallel endV portions I9 conveniently formedintegral with the sheet metal side portions I3 ofthe shell II). The bulbhousing I8 is also provided with a vertical front portion 20, a topportion 22 and a rear side portion 23 which is formed integral with thesheet metal top portion of the shell I0, thus the housing I8 is providedwith an open lower side. The rear side portion 23 of the housing isstamped rearwardly forming an integral threaded sleeve lwardly extendedattitude. "fore insertion between the straps 3E] and the ases/rie 26thereon for the reception of a conventional electric light bulb 22'. Thebulb 2 is threadedly received in the sleeve 2B with the contact endthereof extending rearwardly and exteriorly of the housing I8. Arectangular lip 28 is pierced from the sheet metal top portion II of theshell IIB, extends downwardly from the rear portion 23 of the housingand is bent horizontally rearwardly therefrom a short distance below thetop portion I I of the shell. The metal removed from the top portion IIforming the lip 28 provides a rectangular opening 29 therethrough forthe reception of a spring member hereinafter described.

The sheet metal top portion 22 of the housing I8 is piercedlongitudinally in a plurality of spaced locations and the strips thusformed bent upwardly forming a pair of arched sheet metal straps 30.These sheet metal straps are adapted removably to embrace the forwardand upper end of a steel leaf spring 33. The springr is provided with araised projection 3d intermediate the straps and abutting both thereofwhereby the spring is retained against inadvertent removal ordisplacement thereof from the upper side of the top portion 22 of thehousing and its rear- The spring 33 betop portion 22 of the housing, isarcuately flexed with the ends thereof in substantially is thereafterlocated with the upper end thereof anchored between the straps 3B andthe top portion 22 of the housing with the spring 33 held in arcuaterelation by engagement of the lower end thereof with the rear side ofthe rectangular opening 29.

A contact screw 38, provided with an enlarged head 40, is locatedthrough an opening 4I in the spring 33 at a position exteriorly of theshell I Il and held therein by means of a jam nut 44 with a plurality ofinsulating washers located between the shank of the screw 38 and thespring on the shank of the contact screw 33 with the end of said wiresecurely clamped between the two nuts i4 and 46.

The head 45 of the contact screw is normally and yieldably held out ofengagement with the contact end of the light bulb 2'! by the tendency ofthe spring to return to as near a straight condition as the rear edge ofthe opening 29 permits. In automobile circuits'one connection of thebattery terminal is grounde-d and in providing electrical energy to theash receptacle the other connection is electrically circuited to thewire 43 whereby when the head 40 of the contact screw is moved intoengagement with the contact end of the light bulb the light bulb isenergized for lighting the interior of the ash receptacle.

An ash receptacle, as indicated generally by reference numeral 52, isslidably mounted in the shell. Said receptacle comprises a bottom 54, aVertical rear end portion 55, a pair of vertical parallel side portions56 and a vertical front portion 58 all formed of sheet metal and weldedinto an integral unit. The front portion 53 of the receptacle extendsdownwardly at 59 a short distance below the bottom portion I2 of theshell Il) whereby the receptacle may be manually moved outwardly to openor to removed position. The upper edge portion of the vertical frontportion 58 is bent horizontally rearwardly at 63 against the upper edgeof the side portions 56 of the receptacle and is welded thereto. Thisrearwardly extending portion 63 provides means for segregating thehousing I8 from the interior of the ash receptacle whereby ashes, smoke,tar and the like emanating from the receptacle will not accumulate onthe electric light bulb and dim its illumination and whereby theinterior of the ash receptacle is sealed when said receptacle is closedtending to smother burning material contained therein.

The upper edges of each of the vertical parallel side portions 55 of theash receptacle are extended inwardly near their rear ends providing apair of substantially horizontal wing portions 6:5 with a longitudinalspace therebetween. A snuffer 6E formed of a strip of spring steel isprovided at its rear end with a T shaped portion, the opposite sides ofwhich are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the underside of eachof the wings with the snuifer extending substantially horizontallyforwardly therefrom. A concave snuifer cup lil of any suitable shape anddesign, is formed at the forward end of the snuffer ifi whereby a personmay remove ashes from the end of a cigar, cigarette, or the like, or mayextinguish the burning end thereof. A catch projection 'I2 is securedtransversely to the upper side of the snulfer spring 66 and upwardlyextended therefrom. The projection is extended upwardly a distancesuflicient to engage the lower end portion of the spring 33 Where itdepends into the shell I0. As shown in Fig. 2, upon movement of the ashreceptacle 52 to open position, the projection contacts the spring andupon continued movement of the receptacle the head 4B of the contactscrew is moved into electrical engagement with the light bulb 21energizing the same. The lip 28, being bent downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the top portion II of the shell, is in a position to abut thespring as the bending thereof is increased by opening of the ashreceptacle. Obviously the rear end portion of the lip is arranged withrespect to the contact portion of the light globe so that furtherbending of the spring, and possible damaging thereof, is precluded uponflexing of the spring sufficiently to bring the head into electricalcontact with the bulb. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 2. Obviouslythis further serves to limit outward movement of the receptacle andretains the same in slidable engagement with the shell.

Means are provided for preventing rattling of the ash receptacle withinthe shell IU by providing a pair of leaf springs 74, each of which isbent to arcuate shape with attened ends, one end of each being securedto the upper side of each of the wings 65. When the ash receptacle isinserted within the shell II] each of the leaf springs is compressed andheld in deflected position while the ash receptacle is located withinthe shell whereby the receptacle cannot rattle or vibrate within theshell.

Operation In mounting the ash receptacle and supporting structuretherefor the flanged portions I4 of the shell I9 are welded or screwedto the rear side of the instrument panel I 6 having an openingtherethrough into which the ash receptacle may extend. The ashreceptacle is slidably received within the shell I0 with the leafsprings 14 in deflected condition to prevent the rattling of thereceptacle within the shell.

y During the insertion of the ash receptacle into the shell, the snufferis moved downwardly causing the catch projection 'l2 to move under andout of engagement with the lip 28 and the lower end of the contactsupporting spring 32. The normal position of the ash receptacle is inrearwardly closed position, as shown in Fig. l. In this position thehead 40 of the contact screw is held out of engagement with the contactend of the light bulb 21 by the resilient action of the contactsupporting spring 33. In this position the housing I8 is segregated fromthe interior of the ash receptacle 52 by means of the sheet metalportion 63 which extends rearwardly from the upper edge of the frontportion 58 of the receptacle whereby the bulb does not become coveredwith smoke and ashes, and the like. In this closed position the ashreceptacle is substantially air tight whereby ignited cigars,cigarettes, or smoking pipe ashes enclosed therein will becomeextinguished and whereby smoke therefrom will be contained within thereceptacle.

When it is desired to insert the ashes from a cigar, cigarette, orsmoking pipe into the ash receptacle or to deposit a cigar or cigarettebutt therein the ash receptacle is slid outwardly by manual manipulationof the downwardly extending portion 59 on the ash receptacle. Duringsuch motion the catch projection 12 engages the lower terminal end ofthe contact supporting spring 33 moving it forwardly therewith andcausing the head 40 of the contact screw 38 to come in contact with therear contact end of the light bulb thus closing the electrical circuitthereto and illuminating the interior of the ash receptacle while in itsopen position. With the interior of the ash receptacle thus illuminatedone desiring to deposit ashes or butts therein may easily see thereceptacle and the snuifer mounted therein.

After the ashes or butts are inserted within the asi receptacle, thereceptacle may be moved rearwardly to closed position and in so doing,the catch projection 'l2 permits the contact supporting spring 33 toflex rearwardly into engagement with the rear edge of the rectangularopening 25. In this position the head of a contact screw 38 is out ofengagement with the contact end of the light bulb, and the electricalcircuit thereto is interrupted. While the ash receptacle is in itsclosed position the electric light bulb is automatically de-energized.

When a quantity of ashes and butts has accumulated within the ashreceptacle it is desir-` able conveniently to empty the contentstherefrom. This is conveniently done by removing the ash receptacleentirely from the shell l0 whereby the contents may be emptiedexteriorly of the automobile. In removing the ash receptacleentirelyfrom the shell I0, the ash receptacle is slid outwardly until theforward end of the snufler is exposed. The snuifer is then forceddownwardly during continued forward motion of the ash receptacle wherebythe catch receptacle moves under and out of engagement with the lowerend of the spring 33 and the lip 26. The ash receptacle is thus removedwithout closing the-circuit to the electric light bulb and without thecatch projection stopping the forward motion thereof by engagement withthe lower end of the spring 33. The ash receptacle may be reinserted aspreviously described.

Lak

Although the device of the present invention has been described asfabricated from sheet metal weldably secured in the desiredconfiguration, it will readily be apparent that the invention is notlimited to such structure but only to any suitable structure foraccomplishing the purposes set forth. Still further, although thepresent invention has been demonstrated by reference to an ashreceptacle slidably mounted in a shell Ill, it is to be understood thatthe receptacle may be pivotally mounted and the bulb energized inresponse to any relative movement of the ash tray to the housing orshell in which it is mounted.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an ash receptacle which is automatically lighted whenmoved to open position for the insertion of ashes or butts therein andwhich is automatically extinguished when the ash receptacle is moved toits normal closed position. It will also be seen that the provision ismade for the combination of a snulfer, circuit closer, and stopmechanism in a simple and economical construction that is characterizedby dependable operation.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I haveconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of myinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein,but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and structure.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A construction of the character described comprising a stationaryshell provided with an upwardly extending hollow housing at the forwardupper side thereof open at its lower side to said shell, an electriclight bulb removably supported on a rear portion of the housing,electrically energized contact means supported on the housing and heldyieldably in spaced relation to the bulb, an ash receptacle mountedwithin the stationary shell and movable therein to an inward closedposition and to an outward open position and having an open upper side,stop means on the receptacle adapted to engage the contact means and tomove the contact means into electrical engagement with the bulb onoutward movement of the receptacle and adapted to limit the outwardmovement of the receptacle by such engagement, and means for moving thestop means to released position from engagement with the contact meanswhereby complete withdrawal of the receptacle from the stationary shellmay be accomplished.

2. A construction of the character described comprising a stationaryshell provided with an upwardly extending hollow housing at the forwardand upper side thereof being open at its lower side, an electric lightbulb removably supported on a rear portion of the housing with thecontact end thereof extending rearwardly therefrom, a contact supportingspring having an electrically energized contact member supported thereonand insulated therefrom, supported on the housing with the contactmember yieldably held in spaced relationship to the Contact end of thebulb, an ash receptacle having an open upper side supported within thestationary shell and movable to a closed position and to an outwardly,open position, a snuier secured at its rear end to the rear end of thereceptacle and extending substantially horizontally forwardly therefrom,a catch projection secured to the upper side of the .Snuffer adapted toengage the lower end of the Contact supporting spring on movement of theash receptacle to open position and to move the contact member intoengagement with the contact end of the bulb and to limit the outwardmovement of the receptacle.

3. The combination of an ash receptacle housing having forward andrearward end portions, an ash receptacle mounted in the housing formovement relative. thereto between forward-open and closed-rearwardpositions, a light source mounted by the housing in a position toilluminate the receptacle when in open position, a flexible member borneby the housing in spaced relation to the light source, an electricallyenergized contact borne by the exible member in a position engageablewith the light source upon bending of the fiexible member, said flexiblemember being mounted on the housing and extended downwardly to aposition adjacent the ash receptacle, a flexible snufier mounted withinthe ash receptacle and forwardly extending from its mounting, aprojection upwardly extended from the snuifer and engageable with theflexible meniber upon forward movement of the receptacle, and a stopmeans borne by the housing and releasably limiting forward bending ofthe flexible member and forward movement of the receptacle to a positionbringing the contact of the flexible member into light sourceengagement.

4. A construction of the character described comprising a tubular shellopen at its forward end and having a hollow housing extending upwardlyfrom the forward end thereof open interiorly to the shell, an electriclight bulb removably mounted through a rear portion of the housing withthe Contact end thereof extending rearwardly, a contact supportingspring having one end thereof anchored horizontally on the housing and'flexed rearwardly and downwardly with the lower end thereof extendingdownwardly into the shell, means for limiting the rearward flexingmotion of the free end of the spring, an electrically energized contactmember supported on the spring and insulated therefrom adjacent thecontact end of the 'bulb and normally out of engagefnent therewith, ahollow ashl receptacle open at its upper side slidably received in theshell through its forward open end slidable to inwardly closed positionand to an outwardly open position, a snufer attached to the rear end ofthe ash receptacle and extending substantially horizontally forwardlytherefrom, a catch projection secured to and extending upwardly from amid position of the snufer spring adapted to engage the free end of thecontact supporting spring on outward motion of the ash receptacle to itsopen position moving the Contact member into engagement with the contactend of the bulb and the catch projection movable downwardly to releasedposition therefrom on downward motion of the snuffer.

5. An ash tray comprising an elongated shell having an open forward endportion, an ash receptacle having an open upper side mounted forslidable movement longitudinally of the shell between a closed positionwithin the shell and an open position extended outwardly of the forwardend of the shell, a light bulb having a contact rearwardly disposed tothe shell mounted in a position to illuminate the receptacle in openposition, a contact supporting spring having an electrically energizedcontact mounted thereon and insulated therefrom supported on the shellrearward of the bulb with the contact yieldably held from bulbengagement, and a projection borne by the receptacle for springengagement upon movement of the receptacle to open position to bring thespring borne contact into engagement with the bulb contact and to limitfurther forward movement of the receptacle by suoli engagement.

WALTER, J. TODHUNTER.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,532,935 Patton Apr, 7, 19252,119,267 Coleman May 31, 1938 2,144,376 Johnson Jan. 17, 1939 2,261,698Prance Nov. 4, 1941 2,352,493 Palmer June 27, 1944

